That was Then, This is Now

1.Who are Bryon and Mark?

Bryon and Mark are two teenagers in the 1960s. Mark is an adopted brother who is very strong and has a reputation for stealing things and getting into trouble. Bryon is a also a strong boy who is growing up faster than Mark and isn't really into, getting into fights and stealing anymore.

2.Who are the two young people Bryon meets at the hospital?

Bryon is introduced to Cathy, M&M's sister, who works at the snack bar. He also meets a young man about the age of 16 who got brutally mugged, because he helped another young woman home. The young man helped the girl out because she was threatened by his gang, but when he got there, she turned on him even though he didn't hurt her.

3. What kind of relationship does Bryon have with Charlie?

Bryon has a special relationship with Charlie, a local bar owner, Charlie in a way is like Bryon's godfather, because he always helps him out when he is in a jam. He also helps them in their pool hustling.

4.What happens at the dance?

At the dance, Bryon goes with Cathy and their night gets interesting when Mark sticks up for his friend and he get slashed with a broken bottle! The reason Mark gets slashed with the broken bottle is because Angela, Byron's old girlfriend, wants to get Mark's Friends attention by sending someone to start a fight with him.

5. What does Bryon begin to discover in his private conversations with Mark?

He begins to discover that Mark still thinks fighting is awesome and he still thinks it is a thrill. He also notices that Mark is stealing a lot more. Also that he does not think of Bryon's mother as his, and discovers how Marks parents died,Mark blames that on himself.

6. What happened to Charlie? How do Bryon and Mark feel about it?

One night as Bryon and Mark were pool hustling, the people they played noticed it and didn't like it, so they trailed them and were about to give them a beating of a lifetime when Charlie came to back them up with his firearm. The two fellows form Texas shot and Charlie dove over Bryon to save him. They found out he was dead. Later Bryon was very upset about it but Mark wasn't that upset.

7. What do Mark and Cathy think of each other?

Mark and Cathy start to get more and more serious. They spend a lot of time together and love one another.

8. What does mark do to Angela? Why?

As Mark and Bryon ride down the strip they see Angela and see had to much alcohol and they drive her around and cut all her hair off. They do it because Angela put Bryon through a lot and he is not too found of her.

9. In chapter seven, what does Bryon begin to discover about his good friend Mark?

Byron begins to discover that Mark starts bringing in a whole lot of money, and Bryon knows he doesn't have a job. He wonders how he does it.

10. What happens to Bryon at Terry Jones’ house? How does his attitude change?

When Bryon arrives at Terry's house late one night, Angela's brother got out of jail and beats up Bryon badly. Instead of the old Bryon wanting to get him back he matures and says we shouldn't of shaved Angela's hair in the first place.

11. In chapter nine, what happens to M&M? Why does this move Bryon?

In chapter nine M&M has a "Bad Trip" which means his LSD hallucinations were mentally disturbing and some crazy things happened to him. This causes M&M to be physically fine but mentally unstable. This moves Bryon to find out where he got it.

12. What shocking discovery does Bryon make in Mark’s bedroom (chapter 10)? What does he do?

Bryon discovers that Mark is the one who sold M&M the LSD and that's were he got all the money from. Bryon decides to call the police.

13. How does Bryon’s relationship with his friends and his attitude toward life completely change?

His life completely changes and he and Cathy break up and he separates himself from the social world.

14. How does Bryon feel at the end of the book?

At the end of the book Bryon feels ashamed for what he did because he lost his best friend forever and completely destroyed Mark's reputation.
. Bryon, in a very small way, also feels happy for turning him in, because he made him quit dealing LSD. Also it seems, in the end, that Bryon matures a lot and Mark just keeps his same ways.


15. What do you think about this book and what life message does it teach?

I believe that this book teaches you that everyone has to grow up and mature just like Byron did, and also that you should always stay loyal to your friends, in good times and bad.